Marriages, Wreck And Reference & So Stressed Play At Complex

Review by Darshun

August 10th 2014, Complex, Glendale CA: Having completed recording their yet untitled new full-length album, Los Angeles-based experimental rock band Marriages are readying for a short US West Coast run supporting Japanese eclectic rockers Boris, and in the lead-up to this week-long tour which begins on August 16th, they played a hometown headliner at Complex in Glendale last Sunday with support acts Wreck And Reference and So Stressed, for a show presented by Church Of The 8th Day. Our writer Darshun was on site to cover the event for us through his words. Here’s his review:

The night began with So Stressed from Sacramento, a three piece consisting of keyboards/vocals, guitar and drums. During the first song the soundman was still dialing in the instruments and the drummer’s snare was extremely loud. The drummer hit with such ferocity I feared that he would destroy his snare. The music was interesting to say the least, the guitars could’ve sounded a bit more polished to accompany the keyboards and vocal screams. Their set ended a little over the 20-minute mark. A friend termed their music as being spazzcore, which was perhaps an accurate term owing to the syncopated and frenetic drums and the somewhat hardcore-ish vocals.

So Stressed links: facebook

Next up was the duo Wreck and Reference from the Los Angeles/Sacramento area. I had heard of them touring with Deafheaven and Pallbearer on the East Coast and missed an opportunity to catch their set at the Echoplex with Deafheaven. These guys were fantastic and consist of drums, vocals and sounds created using a sample pad. Felix the samplist controlled his pad with an urgency that had him hitting the sampler without care as he screamed or sang the lyrics. Vocal duties would switch back and forth between Felix and Ignat, who hit the drums like it was nobody’s business and was the perfect compliment to Felix’s sample pad. I would highly recommend checking out Wreck and Reference because they absolutely floored me.

Wreck And Reference links: facebook | twitter | bandcamp

Finally, for the main bout of the night, Marriages delivered the promised goods of newer material, which made the crowd anxious and pleased at the same time. With the newer songs I was impressed with Emma Ruth Rundle’s prowess on guitar and her command and choice of effects. Emma’s vocals shined throughout the night and was accompanied by Andrew Clinco’s tasteful beats and Greg Burns’ bass and keyboards. Andrew played the drums in such a zenful manner while Emma desperately breathed and belted out her lyrics. Despite Greg not playing his main bass (his active pick up circuitry in his favorite bass fried earlier that day), he did a great job nonetheless. The set began with the first track off of the 2012 EP ‘Kitsune’ and the rest of the set were all brand new tunes. Only a couple songs I’ve already heard at previous shows were played last night. Emma’s voice held it together and the textures from her guitar that were chosen were executed in a skillful manner. On one of the new songs Greg used his left hand to hammer on the bass and right hand to play keyboards ala Brian Cook (These Arms Are Snakes/Russian Circles). I’m anxious to hear how the new songs will sound after being properly mixed and mastered for their new record. Sargent House will tentatively release the new album early next year. The intimateness of Complex has made this one of my favorite sets by Marriages.

Marriages links: website | facebook | twitter | instagram | bandcamp

Marriages US tour dates:
Aug 16 –  Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile  # ^
Aug 17 –  Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre # ^
Aug 18 –  Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge # ^
Aug 20 –  San Francisco, CA @ The Independent #
Aug 21 –  Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium #
Aug 22 –  San Luis Obispo @ SLO Brew #
# w/ Boris
^ w/ Master Musicians of Bukkake

Church Of The 8th Day links: facebook | twitter | instagram

Complex links: website | facebook | twitter | instagram

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